Nets GM believes resurgent season will draw free agents

The Brooklyn Nets just enjoyed their most successful season in four years, posting a record of 42-40 to clinch their first postseason berth since the 2014-15 campaign.

General manager Sean Marks applauded head coach Kenny Atkinson for "establishing an identity" within the club and believes that'll pay dividends in free agency.

"Kenny and the staff have got them playing at a high level, competing, they're never out of games," Marks told reporters, including ESPN's Ian Begley, at his season-ending press conference on Thursday.

"It's going to attract free agents. People are going to want to play here. They're going to want to play for Kenny. They're going to want to play in Brooklyn. They're going to play for this ownership group. And I think we have a lot of things going for us."

At the moment, the Nets don't have the cap space to offer a max contract to any of the big names in this summer's loaded free-agent class. In the end, Brooklyn's direction this offseason could be dictated by the future of star guard D'Angelo Russell, who's a restricted free agent.

The former No. 2 overall pick has already expressed a desire to remain with the Nets, but Marks wasn't ready to tip his hand.

"Our job is to continue to put talent on the roster," the GM said.

"He's obviously one of our more talented players. You said we'll have decisions. D'Angelo is going to have decisions, too. That is a little bit of the nature of this business. But at the end of the day, our job is to continue to put talent on the floor for Brooklyn."